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ooking back at the last 23 years of ScotCat factsheets, this is the one genera that has been noticeable by its absence which to me has been a transgression on my part as there are countless species from this genus, and although most of them grow quite large they are on the whole peaceful albeit a bit boisterous in the confines of an aquarium.

Hypostomus regani

Although many in this genera are spotted and brown H. regani stands out as one of the most beautiful especially as sub-adults, and can look very impressive when out in the open especially when showing its high dorsal which differentiates it from other similar looking species.

Adult - showing the large dorsal fin

The genus Hypostomus includes species of medium to large body size (50cm) and has 7 rays to the dorsal fin whereas the similar looking Pterygoplichthys species have 10 dorsal fin rays. There are a few similarly coloured species that look like H. regani such as H. margaritifer, H. strigaticeps and H. variipictuus but as earlier mentioned the high dorsal fin with light coloured rays tells it apart from these aforementioned species.

H. regani (Ihering, 1905) was described from the Rio Piracicaba, upper Rio Paraná basin, it was collected in streams flowing into the Rio Paraguay basin, in northern Paraguay (Weber et al., 1992) as well as in the Rio Manso basin, upper Rio Paraguay basin (Veríssimo et al., 2005; Zawadzki et al., 2009).

Plecostomus regani

Giant White Spot Pleco

Hypostominae

Brazil: São Paulo, Rio Pardo. Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay River basin.

40.0cm. (16ins)

18-25°c (63-77°f.)

6.0-7.5.

Absence of evertible odontodes on the interoperculum, and non-evertible odontodes on the head or body; dorsal fin with seven rays. Papillae poorly developed and irregular in size and shape. Abdomen covered with plates or completely uncovered; caudal fin bifurcated (Hypostomus genera).

Youngsters have an overall black or dark colouration with gold/yellow spots. Adults tend to be more of a brown body colouration with paler spots.

Peaceful but as it is territorial only keep one species to a tank. Tank layout should have bogwood and tough plants as if the plants are of a soft variety they will eat them if not given an adequate vegetable diet. Grows large so a spacious aquarium of 6ft (180cm) or over would need to be catered for. As this genus in the main are messy eaters, good water quality and filtration would need to be adhered to. Lower water temperatures are beneficial to this species. Will coexist with most species but may be aggresive with conspecifics.

Males usually grow larger and have longer fins, especially the pectoral and caudal fins.

Algae, and vegetable foods such as cucumber and courgette (zucchini). Will also take frozen foods as a treat and sinking tablet foods.

Caudal fin: The tail.
Dorsal fin: The primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Odontodes: Hair - like stuctures on the body.
Papillae: A small fleshy projection, plural papillae.
Pectoral fins: The paired fins just behind the head.

Hypostomus: Hypo = underneath;stomus = mouth.(mouth underneath).
regani: In honour of Charles Tate Regan, the English ichthyologist. (1878-1943).

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1991 Aquarien atlas. Bd. 3. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 1104 p.
Camargo M, Gimênes Jnr H, and Rapp Py-Daniel L. H.. Loricariids of the Middle Rio Xingu. Pantarhei Aquaristik Im Rhythmus der Natus. 288 p.
Seidel, I. 2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen, Germany 208 p.

Photo Credits

© Allan James @